Video Shows Alleged Abuse At Group Home

EAST HARTFORD — A video that appears to show a group home employee kicking an intellectually disabled person and dragging her by the hair has prompted an investigation of the agency that runs the East Hartford home and the female worker, state officials said.

Copies of the video were dropped off anonymously at three locations Tuesday — the state Department of Developmental Services in East Hartford; Options Unlimited Inc., the Bloomfield-based agency that runs the home; and WFSB Channel 3.

"We looked at it, [and] we got a hold of the provider who at the same time was looking at it," DDS spokeswoman Joan C. Barnish said.

"The provider immediately placed the person in question in the video on unpaid leave."

Police said Wednesday the employee seen in the video was identified immediately, but they refrained from naming her publicly or providing other details about the criminal investigation.

Options Unlimited, a nonprofit agency based at 693 Bloomfield Ave., runs six homes that serve about 25 clients. All of its homes were placed under scrutiny — what DDS calls "enhanced monitoring" — after the video surfaced.

"We're going to be monitoring a whole bunch of different things in all of their group homes," Barnish said.

Several other Options Unlimited employees who worked at the home, at 371 King St., had been fired previously, DDS officials said Wednesday.

A DDS agent was sent to the East Hartford home Tuesday, where about five clients are served, to check on their well-being.

A state police sergeant working with DDS brought the DVD to the East Hartford Police Department, which is leading the investigation. The state Office of Protection and Advocacy is also investigating.

"We are deeply saddened and appalled by this incident. As soon we became aware of it, we took prompt action and placed the employee on unpaid administrative leave," Options Unlimited spokesman Michael Lundie said Wednesday in a prepared statement.

"We are working closely with DDS and the East Hartford Police Department on the investigation."

"I am outraged by the images in this video — this is absolutely unacceptable," DDS Commissioner Terrence W. Macy said in a prepared statement.

"Our immediate response was to ensure the accused staffer was removed from the premises and the victim is getting the proper care and support. DDS has begun our own investigation in conjunction with the investigation by the East Hartford Police, and we will work with authorities to aggressively prosecute any wrongdoing."